Mounting arrangement for demountable containers on railway cars



y 20, 1969 J. E. GUTRIDGE 3,444,824

MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR DEMOUNTABLE CONTAINERS 0N RAILWAY CARS Filed Aug. 23, 1967 Sheet of 6 INVENTOR JACK E. eum/ 6E ATT May 20, 1969 J. E. GUTRIDGE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR DEMOUNTABLE CONTAINERS ON RAILWAY CARS ofG Sheet Filed Aug. 25, 1967 INVENTOR JACK E. G IDGE BY y May 20, 1969 J. E. eurmocaa MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR DEMOUNTABLE CONTAINERS ON RAILWAY CARS 6 r w 0 6 3 M l M 3 3 4 m 2 iIHU HNHf- 5. Ill! il.\.|I.|:Il& w F 1 w O WIN. 6 2 1 S (/0 w 4 W WW mm PHI. Ma .w & B ml Hm X J 3 U n 5 5:. x/ m 1 4 H 2 3 n m L Y M/ 7 1 m J m U u w! M 5/7 g N m l TF .1 .7 1 F INVENTOR JACK E. GUTR/ GE ATT' May 20, 1969 J. E. summer-z MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR DEMOUNTABLE CONTAINERS ON RAILWAY CARS Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 23, 1967 R m w m May 20, 1969 J. E. GUTRIDGE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR DEMOUNTABLE CONTAINERS ON RAILWAY CARS INVENTOR JACK E. GU

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May 20, 1969 J. E. GUTRIDGE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR DEMOUNTABLE CONTAINERS ON RAILWAY CARS Filed Aug. 23, 1967 Sheet INVENTOR DGE United States Patent US. Cl. 105366 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A railway car having upstanding side sills providing tire guides for highway trailers carried thereon includes container mounting brackets which are movable from a rest position to an erect operative position wherein they coact with the four corner brackets of a container carried on the car. The brackets include supporting beams which cooperate with the upstanding side sills of the car and which may be disposed in a non-used or rest position lying flat 0n the deck of the car so as to permit loading and unloading of trailers with the mounting brackets providing a minimum obstruction relative to the rolling of the wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to railway cars of the flat deck type which are suitable for both trailer-on-flat-car operation (TOFC) and container-on-flat-car operation (COFC). Where the railway car is used for COFC the containers are carried on mounting brackets which are disposed at the four corners of each container and provides a mounting means to resist the longitudinal and lateral forces to which the container is subjected during transport. The mounting means or brackets are generally located in the area of the trailer over which the wheelai chassis roll and therefore the mounting brackets must be adapted to accommodate this travel with a minimum of obstruction.

Description of the prior art The prior art has recognized the difficulty of providing suitable container brackets on railway cars alternately carrying TOFC or COFC. Thus container brackets have been provided which are hinged at the outer edges of the railway car and are movable from a position below the car to a position on top of the car for carrying the containers. Such arrangements have design limitations as well as the various designs wherein the brackets are recessed in pockets within the deck structure. The prior art most pertinent with respect to the present invention is applicants Patent 3,257,970, patented June 28, 1966. The particular container bracket design shown in the aforementioned patent is particularly adaptable to flat cars having downwardly extending side sills with rub rails disposed in the central portion of the car for guiding the trailer wheels. The present invention is particularly concerned with container brackets for a railway flat car having upwardly extending side sills which include rub rails or tie guides performing the guiding function for guiding trailer wheels.

SUMMARY The invention relates to an improved mounting arrangement including a plurality of brackets adapted to support demountable containers on a flat car which is also designed for TOCF operation. The fiat car is provided with upstanding side sills which act as tire guides during TOFC operation and the brackets are disposed in the path normally traversed by the wheels of the trailer during loading and unloading. The arrangement comprises a bracket which in a rest position is substantially fiat with the deck providing a minimum obstruction for trailer wheel travel and in the vertical container support position is supported by means of a beam construction extending from the upstanding side sills and being supported thereon. The supporting beam provided to maintain the hinged bracket in an erect operative position may be moved to an inoperative position directly over and on top of the side sills to an out-of-the-way position. Thus when the flat car is utilized for TOFC operations the fiat hinged bracket provides no obstruction to trailer wheel travel and the supporting bracket is locked in an out of the way position on top of the side sill.

A modification includes a transverseley extending support bracket for the hinged beam the said bracket being hingedly supported on the side sill and being swingable outwardly of the side sill and to depend therefrom in an out-of-the-way position during TOFC operations.

A further modification includes a transverse bracket for supporting the hinged beam, said bracket being movable to an out-of-the-way position outwardly of the side sill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flat deck railway car showing a pair of containers supported on an improved mounting means arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through the fiat deck car shown in FIG. 1 showing the car being utilized for trailer-on-flat-car operations;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a corner bracket mounting arrangement in an operative or erect position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 however showing the mounting brackets in a rest or non-operative position;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a flat car showing a modified embodiment of a mounting arrangement for containers in a non-operative or rest position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the mounting arrangement in an erect or operative position;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view taken substantially along the line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view through a railway flat car showing another modification of a container mounting arrangement with the arrangement in an operative or erect position;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the modified mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 a railway car is generally designated by the reference character 10. The car 10 is provided with a center sill structure 11 having a sliding sill 12 which may be suitably cushioned, by a long travel cushioning device. The car includes a deck or floor 13 supported on a plurality of longitudinally extending stringers 14 supported on a floor support 15. The rail car 10 comprises longitudinally extending side sills 16 which are provided with guide or inner rub rail surfaces 17. The railway car 10 is further provided with conventional couplers 18 which are connected to the sliding sill 12.

As shown in FIG. 1 a pair of containers 20 are supported on the railway car 10 by means of mounting means or bracket arrangement 21 which engage and support the containers 20 at each of their corners. Each mounting means or bracket arrangement 21 includes a longitudinally extending beam 22 hingedly connected to the deck 13 by means of hinge brackets 23 and hinge pins 24. The upper peripheral edge of the beam 22 also includes an upwardly extending projection 26 having an abutment means 27 and an inclined edge 28. A support beam in the form of a flat plate 29, in the erect position of the beam 22 as shown in FIG. 3, is disposed in the cutout 25. As best shown in FIG. the beam 29 is provided with downwardly disposed projections 30 and 31 which engage the sides of the beam 22 to retain the same in the erect position. The beam 29 in the operative position of FIG. 5 extends transversely over the side sill 16 and is connected to a cylindrical rod 32, the rod 32 being rotatably journaled in an upright tubular support 33 suitably connected to the side sill 16 by means of a bracket 34. The upper end of the tubular support 33 is provided with a notch 35 shown in FIG. 5. A second notch 36 in the tubular support 33 is disposed circumferentially approximately 90 from said first notch 36. Rigidly connected to the rod 32 is a projecting stop element 37 which as shown in FIG. 5 is disposed in the notch 35. The cutout 25 maintains the beam 29 against hinging movement. The beam 29 also carries an abutment element 38 having an inclined surface 39. Abutment means 40 is provided on the element 38. A latch element 41 is supported on the abutment element 38 and includes a slidable pin 42 connected to a handle 43 which as best shown in FIG. 3 is disposed in a lock slot 44.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 a stop pin 45 extends through the rod 32 to limit its upper movement in the tubular support 33. An actuating lever 46 is pivotally connected to a hinge bracket 47 supported on the side sill 16 and rests on a bracket 48, also supported on the side sill 16, with the lower end of the rod 32 being supported on the lever 46.

OPERATION FIG. 2 discloses the wheels 49 of a trailer disposed on the deck 13 in a loaded position. The beams 22 are in a folded position on the deck and the wheels 49 can readily roll upon the deck and over the substantially flat treadway provided by the beams 22. This takes place, of course, in trailer-on-flat-car operation (TOFC). Assuming now that the cars are to be used for container operation commonly known as COFC it is a simple matter to pivot the beams 22 to the upright position. In the rest position shown in FIG. 4 the rod 32 is held against pivotal movement relative to the tubular support 33. By means of the lug 37 by the operator lifting upwardly on the lever 46, the lug 37 is disengaged from the notch 36 and the beam 29 can be pivoted into the lateral support position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the beam 29 is disposed in the cutout 25. In this position the beam 22 is held against hinging movement in the erect position and the beam 29 is held against pivotal movement. With the four mounting bracket arrangements 21 in this position a container may now be crane loaded by seating the corner of the container on the surfaces provided by the beams 22 and 29. The inclined edges 28 and 39 serve to guide the container corners into position and the latch element 41 is placed in the position indicated in FIG. 3 wherein the pin 42 engages a suitable opening provided in the corner bracket (not shown) of the container 20. Thus the container is held against upward displacement and horizontal and lateral forces are restrained by the abutment means 27 and the abutment means 40. For

TOFC operation it is apparent that the procedure is merely reversed and the beam 29 is moved on top of the side sills 16 wherein it is held in position by the engagement of the lug 37 in the slot 36.

4 DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF A MODIFICATION In the modification shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 the railway car is identical and is substantially the same and the same reference characters are applied. In addition however the side sills 16 may support longitudinally extending channel members 49 which like the inner surfaces 17 form rub rails or guide members for guiding the trailer wheels 49 of a trailer during TOFC operation. The additional rub rails 49 may be provided to accommodate a narrower trailer bogie construction, if a wider suspension is used they would be removed. Projecting outwardly horizontally from the upper portion of the side sills 16 is a horizontal longitudinally extending flange 50. The container mounting means for this modification is generally designated by the reference character 51. The mounting means 51 comprises a longitudinally extending vertical beam 52 pivoted about hinge brackets 53 by means of hinge pins 54 supported on the floor 13. The hinge pins 54 are suitably retained in hinge elements 55 of the beam 52. The upper peripheral surface of the beam 52 is recessed or cut out as indicated at 56. An abutment element 57 on the beam 52 comprises an inclined surface 58 and an abutment surface 59.

A support beam 60 is hingedly supported on the flange 50 by means of a hinge pin 61 supported by a clevis 62, with said hinge pin 61 being suitably connected to the beam 60. The clevis 62 as best shown in FIG. 9 is rotatable or swivels about a vertical hinge pin 63 secured to hinge member 64 which is rigidly secured on the flange 50. The beam 60 is also provided with a notched or hooklike portion 65 which in the position shown in FIG. 8 is adapted to be engaged within the cutout 56. The beam 60 also includes an abutment surface 66 and an inclined surface 67. The lock pin 68 is slidable within the beam 60 and includes a handle 69 for actuating the pin 68, the said handle 69 being engaged and projecting from a two position stop slot 70. As best shown in FIG. 7 a pair of vertically extending pates 71 are suitably connected to the horizontal flange 50 and provide pocket means for receiving the beam 60 in its stored or out-of-the-way position.

For container operations it is readily apparent that the beam 52 is merely hinged upwardly to its vertical position and the hook 65, as shown in FIG. 8 engages the cutout 56 to firmly support the beam 52 in the upright position. The beam 60 is provided with the clearance cutout 72 adapted to straddle the rub rail 49 and as indicated in FIG. 9 the container 20 is firmly seated upon the supporting surfaces provided by the coaction of the beams 52 and 60. The abutment surfaces 59 and 66 support the container against longitudinal and transverse displacement and the pin 68 when moved into the position shown in FIG. 8 engages the corner brackets (not shown) of the container for retaining the same against vertical displacement. For storing, the beam 60 is merely swivelled to the position shown in FIG. 7 wherein it is cradled by the plate 71 on top of the flange 50.

DESCRIPTION OF ANOTHER MODIFICATION The railway car 10 described in FIGS. 11 and 12 is substantially indentical and therefore the same reference characters are applied. In FIGS. 11 and 12 a longitudinally extending hinged beam is designated as 73 which is hingedly supported for pivotal movement on the deck 13 by means of hinged bracket 74 and hinge pins 75. The bracket 73 comprises an upper horizontal surface 76 having a cutout 77 therein as best shown in FIG. 11. An abutment element 78 is provided having an abutment surface 79.

A pair of vertically extending and laterally spaced plates 80 are suitably welded to the side still 16 and each plate 80 is provided at its upper end with a hinge portion 81 supporting a hinge member 82 by means of a hinge pin 83 extending into and being supported on the plates 81. The hinge member 82 is connected to a transversely extending support beam 84 which in the supporting position shown in FIG. 11 rests within the cutout 77 and retains the beam 73 against hinging movement by means of lock projections 85 and 86.

An abutment element 87 is secured to the beam 84 and includes an inclined surface 88. A locking pin 89 is adapted to engage a corner container bracket (not shown) having a suitable opening as indicated in FIGURE 11 and the pin 89 is movable by means of a handle 90. In this particular modification the rest position of the beams 73 and 84 are shown in broken lines in FIG. 11. When it is desired to utilize the fiat car for COFC operations the beam 73 is placed in the position shown in FIG. 11 and the transverse member 84 is swung from its rest position into the position indicated in solid lines wherein the mounting structure securely supports the container 20 against longitudinal and transverse forces during operation of the car. It can be seen that the beam 84 in its non-use position between the plates 80 is protected during operation of the railway car and conversion of the railway car to container or trailer operation and vice versa can be quickly effected.

The foregoing description and drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be limited thereto, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway car having a floor, upwardly extending side sills adjacent opposite sides of said fioor, said side sills including longitudinally extending tire guide means on the inner sides of said side sills, said car having a container mounting bracket comprising:

a first flat beam extending longitudinally of said car,

means on said floor turnably mounting said first beam on the floor for transverse hinging movement between a horizontal rest position on said floor to an erect position substantially normal to said fioor,

a second beam having mounting means attached on the outboard side of one of the sills and positioning said second beam over one of the side sills for pivotal movement of the second beam about a vertical axis of the mounting means, said second beam being pivoted from a rest position disposed outwardly of the floor and longitudinally on said side sill to a supporting position etxending transversely over the wfloor in supporting relation with respect to said first beam,

coupling means on said first beam and coupling means on second beam being interengageable and coacting with one another in the supporting position to provide mutual support to maintain said first beam in said supporting position and said second beam against pivoting movement, and abutment surface means on said first beam in the erect position adapted to engage an end wall of a container resisting horizontal load forces applied on said container longitudinallly of said car,

abutment means on said second beam in its supporting position adapted to engage a side wall of said containers to resist horizontal load forces on said container applied laterally of said railway car,

said mounting means mounting said second beam comprising a tube supported on the outboard side of said side sill in an upright position, a cylindrical bar supported in said tube for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and

means connecting said bar to said second beam.

2. A container bracket in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

lock means between said tube and said bar for locking said second beam alternately in said rest position or supporting position including,

a stop element on said bar, and said tube having an upper edge provided with a pair of notches each selectively and alternately engaged by said stop element.

3. A container bracket in accordance with claim 2 including:

means for moving said bar and second beam vertically relative to said tube whereby said stop element is disengaged from one notch and said second beam may be pivoted to a support position relative to said first beam to engage the other notch.

4. A railway car having a floor, upwardly extending side sills adjacent opposite sides of said floor, said side sills including longitudinally extending tire guide means on the inner sides of said side sills, said car having a container mounting bracket comprising:

a first fiat beam extending longitudinally of said car,

means on said floor turnably mounting said first beam on the floor and having transverse hinging movement between a horizontal rest position on said floor to an erect position substantially normal to said floor,

each side sill having an outwardly directed generally horizontal mounting flange,

a second beam having mounting means attached to the top of said horizontal flange and positioning said second beam over one of the side sills and including first pivot means on said flange providing hinging movement about a generally longitudinal horizontal axis and second pivot means on said flange having pivotal movement about a vertical axis, said second beam being pivoted upwardly and pivoted horizon-tally from a rest position disposed longitudinally on said side sill flange to a supporting position extending transversely on the floor in supporting relation with respect to said first beam,

first coupling means on said first beam and second coupling means on said second beam being interengageable and coacting with one another in the supporting position to provide mutual support to maintain said first beam in said supporting position, and said second beam against horizontally pivotal movement,

abutment surface means on said first beam in the erect position adapted to engage an end wall of a container resisting horizontal load force applied on said container longitudinally of said car,

and abutment means on said second beam in its supporting position adapted to engage a side wall of said container to resist horizontal load forces on said container applied laterally of said railway car.

5. A container mounting bracket in accordance with claim 4,

said first coupling means including a notch on said first beam disposed in the upper edge thereof, and

said second coupling means including a hook shaped portion on said second beam engaging said notch whereby upper edges of said beams provide a seat for the corner of said container.

6. A container mounting bracket in accordance with claim 5,

including latch means on one of said beams engageable with said container for restraining the same agaist vertical displacement from said seat.

7. A container mounting bracket in accordance with claim 4,

including retaining means on said flange engageable with said second beam for securing said second beam in the rest position. 4

8. A railway car having a floor, upwardly extending side sills adjacent opposite sides of said floor, said side sills including longitudinally extending tire guide means on the inner sides of said side sills, said car having a container mounting bracket comprising:

a first flat beam extending longitudinally of said car,

means on said floor turnably mounting said first beam on the floor and having transverse hinging movement between a horizontal rest position on said floor to an erect position substantially normal to said floor,

each sill having a generally horizontal longitudinal outwardly directed mounting flange,

a second beam having mounting means attached on the outside of said sill and extending outwardly and above said flange and positioning said second beam over one of the side sills and including pivot means extending above said flange providing hinging movement about a generally longitudinal horizontal axis, whereby said second beam may be pivoted from a rest position where the second beam extends downwardly and outwardly of said side sill to a supporting position extending transversely in supporting relation with respect to said first beam,

means on said first and second beams being interengageable and coacting to provide mutual support to maintain said first beam in said erect position and said second beam against hinging movement,

abutment surface means on said first beam in the erect position adapted to engage an end wall of a container resisting horizontal load forces applied on said container longitudinally of said car,

abutment means on said second beam in its supporting position adapted to engage a side wall of said container to resist horizontal load forces on said container applied laterally of said railway car,

said mounting means mounting said second beam comprising a support bracket connected to one of said side sills and projecting upwardly with respect thereto, and said pivot means including a hinge element on said second beam and supported by said support bracket,

and said support bracket including a pair of longitudinally spaced upright members for receiving the second beam thercbetween in the rest position, and a hinge member disposed between said upright members and over said flange and coacting with said hinge element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,303 12/1957 Charlet 105-368 3,085,518 4/1963 Szczopanik et a1. 105-36 6 3,160,117 12/1964 Willison et a1. 105-366 3,257,970 6/1966 Gutridge 105366 DRAYTON E. HOFFMAN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

